A dog owner has thanked brave coastguards for their efforts after she was reunited with her pet.

Darcy the Dachshund went missing while out walking on cliffs east of Seatown with owner Gillian Livingston.

Mrs Livingston, of Bridport, had been walking Darcy and her other Dachshund Dudley at around 8am on Friday morning. She searched for Darcy for hours before calling the coastguard at around 4pm when she began to fear Darcy may have gone over the cliff edge.

“They were amazing,” she said. “Two of them put on their abseiling kit and were hanging right off the cliff edge with their binoculars to see if they could spot her.”

Despite the search, Darcy wasn’t found and the search was called off. But Mrs Livingston was not deterred, going back to the area at 5.30am to carry on looking, later hanging up posters appealing for anyone who spotted Darcy to get in touch.

“I was pinning a poster up outside the Golden Cap Holiday Park when a man behind me said, ‘is that your dog up on the hill?’” Mrs Livingston said.

“I looked up and there she was. I yelled like a fishwife and she saw me and started running towards me.”

Darcy is tired but well after her overnight adventure, the happy owner added - and Dudley hasn’t left her side.

“I’m just delighted. The dogs are my pride and joy. I’m so happy she’s home.”

And Mrs Livingston also has a message for dog owners, adding: “Keep your pets on a lead near the cliff. You never know what could happen.”

West Bay Coastguard confirmed six rescue officers attended the incident on Friday afternoon. A spokesman urged dog owners never to attempt to rescue animals themselves, but always to call 999 and ask for the coastguard if a dog goes over a cliff.